HEALTHCARE PRACTICES USING SOCIAL WORK

Health policymakers at the macro level can focus on health infrastructure and inform patients about medical care rather than just treatment, and with an rising patient population in the community, social workers can be used to uncover causes of sickness in the public. Access to healthcare varies from country to country, from group to group, and from person to person, based on social, economic, cultural, and health regulations. Social workers can help people understand diverse cultures and settings by working in this profession. Correct and efficient support systems, suitable facilities and equipment will be finished to deliver high-quality medical services and technologies. On the other hand, the role of social work in the health care system and social services is vastly different from that of other professions. Acceptance of clients and professional attitudes are key features of social workers that lead them to evaluate clients in three situations: 1- Needs analysis 2- The client’s condition 3- The interaction between a person and his or her community (Parast, SM and Behrouz A, 2014). Currently, social workers will have a role over the course of treatment services (outpatient, acute, chronic, crisis intervention, counselling, advocacy, and case management). Participation in natural disasters, global and national issues associated with health-care privatisation, and stress inflicted on patients and their families are the key roles that social workers can play (NASW, 2005). Social workers have always contributed a holistic and client-centered approach to health care teams, recognising that health is influenced by various factors i.e, social, economic, and environmental factors. The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) have been defined as the conditions under which individuals live and work, which have an impact on their quality of life and healthcare outcomes (WHO, 2008). Human rights are hard law, not meaningless and ambiguous recommendations. States all across the world are taking drastic measures to combat the health situation. Time and resources are limited, and there is tremendous pressure to implement effective solutions and scale them back as necessary. While promoting the right to life and health, authorities must ensure that these measures are consistent with other human rights commitments, particularly civil and political rights. The rights to privacy, free movement, and other fundamental human rights must be protected to the greatest extent possible. In comparison to other medical and paramedical professions, social workers are significantly enable to ensure the preservation of human rights in relation to any health challenges (Kaviarasu, 2023). It is possible that without a strong professional identity and strong adherence to key social work practice principles, as well as broader supporting structures to protect the social work profession in a medically dominated field, core social work principles and practices will be eroded by medical models of practice. While this is alarming and should not be taken at face value, opposing evidence was gathered indicating that medically entrenched social work departments in some cases strategically used their position to promote and advance the social work profession inside the medical environment. These examples were distinguished by outstanding social work leadership and presentation of key social work practice principles. Adherence to, and ongoing education around, core social work principles may help to not only insulate the profession from value erosion, but also strategically position social work to continue to promote the unique features of the profession and its value in addressing the new wave of health issues arising in India (Cleak, et al., 2020).